This week is the one when gardeners take a little more time to smell their roses because they are hoping that at least one of them will be a winner at the St. Albert Botanic Park’s annual rose show scheduled to take place Sunday.
This July’s fierce storms have been a mixed blessing for local rose growers, who may have seen their most prized blossoms blooming profusely one day, thanks to all the moisture, and battered the next by hail.
One thing is for sure, however, every rose grower experienced the same conditions, so show organizers encourage everyone to try the contest. It’s an event that is free and open to everyone and a novice gardener, with a great-looking fresh rose, could win the ribbon, despite all the gardening tricks tried by experienced rose growers.
“Most of the roses were wet and soaked Monday, but if we get a break in the weather, the buds will open so watch your roses, and if you have a nice one, bring it down. Every rose has a good chance and it’s an opportunity to learn a lot about roses, about how to grow them. It’s meant to be a friendly, neighbourly event where neighbours can show their best roses to each other, ” said rose show organizer Richard Plain.
This is not an occasion to show off your grandmother’s prettiest antique vase. It truly is all about the roses, so most exhibitors will put their rose in a pop bottle or other simple vessel.
There are 34 different categories to enter.
“We have categories for hybrid tea roses, floribunda and grandiflora roses and miniature roses. Somewhat unusual is our large number of classes for shrub roses,” Plain said, as he explained that by far the most common roses in St. Albert gardens are hardy shrubs, and the show organizers wanted to be sure there was a category that featured them.
Experienced rose exhibitors will look for a tea rose that is about two-thirds open.
“You don’t want a tight bud but neither do you want it fully open. Although there is a category for a fully-opened rose in a rose bowl,” Plain said.
For entry in the shrub-rose category, Plain recommends cutting a long stem, 12 to 14 inches in length.
“You cannot stretch a stem, but you can always shorten it. A good long stem needs to look good in proportion,” he advised.
Roses that have been very slightly altered still have a chance, Plain said.
“Perhaps you have a floribunda rose with the centre rose fully blown but other perfect blooms. Then very discreetly remove the blown rose and often you’ll still be left with six or seven roses,” he said.
If a worm or a leaf-cutter bee has drilled a hole in a leaf, but the bloom is still beautiful, try entering it anyway.
“Maybe you lose a few marks but other people will have the same problem,” Plain explained, adding that often the most surprising wins go to an entry in the most fragrant rose category.
“Maybe the appearance isn’t the best, but it’s still the most fragrant. It may not be pretty, but if it’s the best smelling, you could win the ribbon,” he said.
The St. Albert Botanic Park Rose Show is located on Sturgeon Road at the intersection near Woodlands Road. The show takes place in the John Beedle Centre within the park. Entries will be accepted between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. and judging takes place between 10:30 a.m. and noon. Exhibits may be viewed from noon until 4 p.m. when prizes will be awarded. Park volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and to assist with entries.
For more information visit www.stalbertbotanicpark.com/roseshow.htm.
